Panel interlocking arrangement



March 11, 1969 J. H. LOCK PANEL INTERLOCKING ARRANGEMENT Filed Oct. 27, 1967 INVENTOQ JOSEPH H. LocK AT QR Y qtqZ March 11, 1969 J. H. LOCK PANEL INTERLOCKING ARRANGEMENT Sheet of2 Filed Oct. 27, 1967 IHVENTOK H. Locs TOSEPH 0% ATTORNEY United States Patent Oflice 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A tray having a main generally rectangular base panel is provided with oppositely disposed side panels joined to the side edges of the base panel. For securing the ends of the side panels together, locking straps are joined to the base panel diagonally at the corners and locking flaps are joined to the end edges of the side panels. The locking flaps are provided with locking recesses along their upper edges and the locking straps are provided with transversely projecting shoulders. Thus when the corner structure is assembled, the locking flaps are disposed in flat face contacting relation with each other and each locking strap is disposed exteriorly of the associated corner and with its locking shoulders disposed in the coincidental locking recesses of the locking flaps. According to one feature of the invention, sealing flaps are joined to the side edges of the locking strap and, when in assembled positions, these flaps are disposed in face contacting relation with the inside of the adjacent ends of the associated side panels.

In its basic essentials, the invention comprises a panel interlocking arrangement whereby a side panel is secured to a base panel along a first side edge of the base panel and positioned at a substantial angle with respect to the base panel by means of a locking strap secured along a second side edge of the base panel which is disposed at a substantial angle to the first side edge thereof. In addition a locking flap is joined to the end edge of the side panel adjacent the locking strap so that when the locking portions of the locking strap and of the locking flap are secured in locking relation, the side panel is held at a predetermined angle to the base panel. According to a main feature of the invention a sealing flap is joined to a side edge of the locking strap and disposed in flat face contacting relation with the inside surface of the side panel.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a set-up tray which embodies the panel interlocking arrangement of this invention at each corner thereof; FIG. 2 is a plan view of the blank from which the tray of FIG. 1 is formed; FIG. 3 is a perspective view generally similar to FIG. 1, and which depicts panel structure according to a modification of the invention; and in which FIG. 4 is a plan view of the blank from which the structure of FIG. 3 is formed.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the numeral 1 designates the main or base panel of the tray while the numerals 2, 3, 4 and 5 designate side panels adjoined to side edges 7, 8, 9 and 10 respectively of base panel 1. The corners of the tray are formed by panel interlocking means designated generally by the numeral 6. Since all of the corners of the tray are identical in construction, only one corner is here described.

Each corner of the tray is diagonally disposed as indicated by the line 11. Locking strap 12 is secured to the corner of base panel 1 at line '11. Locking strap 12 is provided with an enlarged locking portion 13 which comprises a pair of transversely projecting shoulders .14. Lock- 3,432,085 Patented Mar. 11, 1969 ing portion 13 is joined to locking strap 12 by fold lines 15 and 16. Sealing flaps 17 are foldably joined to the side edges 18 and 19 of locking strap 12 respectively.

Disposed to cooperate with locking strap 12 is a locking flap 20 secured to side panel 5 along the end edge 21 thereof. A locking recess 22 is formed in the upper edge of locking fiap 20 and a narrow throat portion 23 is defined by the configuration of the end edges of locking recess 22. Similarly a locking flap 24 is secured to the end edge 25 of side panel 2 and is provided with a recessed upper edge portion 26 the ends of which are configured to define a narrow throat portion 27.

In order to assemble the panel interlocking arrangement of FIG. 2 into the condition depicted in FIG. 1, it is simply necessary to swing the sealing flaps 17 up wardly slightly and subsequently to swing the side panels 2 and 5- upwardly along the lines 7 and 10 respectively while manipulating the locking flaps 20 and 24 in such manner that these flaps occupy positions inwardly of locking strap 12. When the panels are moved to their set-up condition, the locking portion 13 of locking strap 12 is simply swung inwardly into the coincidental locking recesses 22 and 26 by folding locking portion 13 along lines 415 and 16. When so manipulated, the panel interlocking arrangement appears as shown at each corner of the tray depicted in FIG. 1. I

The modification of the invention depicted in FIGS. 3 and 4 is essentially the same as that depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2. One difference resides in the fact that the side edges 28a and 29a of the sealing flaps 17 in FIG. 3 are angularly disposed with respect to the edges 18 and 19 thereof rather than parallel to the edges 18 and 19 as indicated at 28 and 29 in FIG. 2. Furthermore locking portion 13 is adjoined to the body of locking strap 12 by a single fold line 15. The structure of FIGS. 3 and 4 is otherwise substantially identical to that of FIGS. 1 and 2 and the same numerals have been used to designate the corresponding parts in both these modifications.

In FIGS. 1 and 3 the side panels are shown in substantially perpendicular relationship to the base panel 1. It 'Will be understood that this particular angular relationship is not necessary and that it is within the scope of the invention to arrange the elements dimensionally in such manner that the side panels such as 2, '3, 4 and 5 are disposed at some angle other than ninety degrees to the base panel 1.

In the drawings, the diagonal corners 6 as defined by the edges 11 of the base panel .1 are disposed at approximately 45 to the side edges 7, 8, 9 and 10. It will be understood that the invention may be employed in an arrangement wherein the angular disposition of each corner edge 11 is at some angle other than 45 to the side edges.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:

1. A panel interlocking arrangement comprising a base panel, a side panel joined to a first side edge of said base panel and normally disposed at a substantial angle with respect thereto, a locking strap joined at its base to a second side edge of said base panel and having a locking neck portion formed thereon in spaced relation to said base panel, said first and second side edges of said base panel being disposed at a substantial angle to each other, a first locking flap joined to an end edge of said side panel which is adjacent said locking strap and having a recess defining a narrow throat portion formed along the edge of said locking flap which is remote from said base panel and which is complementary to and engageable with the locking neck portion of said locking strap for holding said locking strap and said locking flap in flat face contacting relation and for maintaining said side and base panels at a substantial angle to each other, and a sealing flap joined to the side edge of said locking strap which is adjacent said side panel and wherein said sealing flap is disposed in flat face contacting relation to said side panel.

2. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said locking portion of said locking strap comprises transversely projecting shoulder portions formed on opposite side edges of said locking strap and wherein said neck portion is interposed between said shoulder portions and said sealing flap.

3. An arrangement according to claim 1 wherein a second side panel is joined to a third side edge of said base panel and normally disposed at a substantial angle with respect thereto, said third side edge of said base panel being disposed at substantial angles to said first and second side edges respectively, a second locking flap is joined to an end edge of said second side panel which is adjacent said locking strap and having a recess defining a narrow throat portion formed along the edge of said second locking flap which is remote from said base panel and which is complementary to and engageable with the locking neck portion of said locking strap for holding said second locking flap in flat face contacting relation with said first locking flap and for maintaining said second side panel at a substantial angle to said base panel and wherein a second sealing flap is joined to the other side edge of said locking strap and disposed in flat face contacting relation to said second side panel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 609,266 8/1898 Davidson 229-34 2,751,138 6/1956 Laver 22932 DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 229-32 

